I



Asymmetric Warfare

I. The Asymmetric Option.

a. Avoidance of Direct Confrontation with Stronger Power.

b. Avoidance of Political Consequences of Conventional Operations.

c. Operations at the edge of Military-Political Divide.

d. Asymmetric Warfare is part of a Continuum.

Examples: Chinese Communists, Viet Cong, Hezbollah.

I. Types of Asymmetric Options.

a. Fabian Strategy

i. Avoid confrontation with main military force.

ii. Buy time for foreign intervention or exhaustion of foe.

iii. Strategically asymmetric

iv. China 1938-1945; American Revolution

b. Guerrilla Warfare

i. Use of small units against weak points of enemy forces.

ii. Use size and speed – fight on desirable terms.

iii. Target transport, supply, etc.

iv. (does not imply insurgency – political component)

v. Contras; Che Guevara in Bolivia

c. Insurgency

i. Progression through continuum.

ii. Establish political credit and values.

iii. Initiate widespread guerrilla warfare against military targets.

iv. Conventional destruction of enemy military forces.

v. China 1931-1949; Vietnam 1961-1968.

d. Terrorism

i. Purpose is civilian exhaustion.

ii. Target is morale.

iii. Groups in legal “nether-region”

II. Asymmetric Downsides.

a. Strategy Concedes Certain Advantages to the Enemy.

b. Fluctuating Control.

i. Control of Territory

ii. Control of Resources

iii. Governmental Legitimacy and Continuity.

Counter-Insurgency

I. The US Army and Tradition

a. First half of history US Army was anti-guerilla organization

1. Conquest and protection of frontier

2. Manage relations with Native American groups

b. Transition

1. After Civil War US adopts Prussian Model

2. Development of mass, high firepower Army

3. Design for destruction of conventional enemy

c. Experience in Vietnam

1. Rejection of Counter-insurgency theorists and practitioners

2. Concentration on firepower, mobility, and destruction of enemy

3. Promotion policies did not favor counter-insurgency expertise

4. Rotation policies inhibited building relationships with locals

5. Army remained focused on conventional war (USSR)

6. Marines fared better with adaptation, but was restricted by Army.

II. Insurgency Transformed.

a. Technological and Social Changes

1. Advantages shifted towards insurgents

2. Ability to fight and sustain effort.

b. Effective Small Arms

1. AKs, RPGs, etc.

2. Long shelf-life and conventionally lethal

c. Communications

1. Cell phones, Internet, etc.

2. Organizational and operational platforms

d. Mass Media

1. Distribution of message

2. Formation of external connections and support lines

III. Political Dimension

a. All Warfare is Political, both in purpose and conflict

b. Asymmetric warfare drops politics to tactical and operational levels

c. Junior Officers and NCOs take on a political role in COIN

d. Basic police services and local security required

e. Coordination with NGOs and civilian agencies critical.

f. Most modern military forces have developed away from such capabilities

IV. COIN Operational Basics

a. Understand Local Grievances

1. Engage the population

2. Develop relationships

b. Unity of Military and Political Operations and Strategy

c. Tactical Competence of Conventional Warfare (Required)

1. Identify

2. Contain

3. Destroy

d. Understand the Enemy’s Strategic Aims and Needs

1. Supplies?

2. Personnel?

3. Territorial Points?

V. “Twenty-Eight Articles” - Kilcullen

a. What is Counter-Insurgency?

1. Competition for the hearts, minds and acquiescence of the population

2. The population must come to respect you

3. The population must accept that your actions will benefit them

b. Operational Imperatives:

1. Know Your Turf

2. Diagnose the Problem

3. Organize for Intelligence

4. Organize for inter-agency operations

5. Travel Light

6. Find a political/cultural adviser

7. Train and Trust the Squad Leader

8. Rank is nothing, Talent is Everything

9. Have a game plan (but be patient and observe)

10. Be there (don’t live on the bases)

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